Inter-National League
| Inter-National League | |
| Sport | Ice hockey |
| Founded | 2012 |
| CEO | Dr. Dieter Kalt |
| No. of teams | 9 (in 2015-16) |
| Country(ies) |  Austria Slovenia Italy
|
| Ceased | 2016 |
| Last champion(s) | EHC Bregenzerwald (2015–16) |
| Most championship(s) | EHC Bregenzerwald (2) |
| Official website | Inter-National League |
The Inter-National League was an international ice hockey league that was a partnership between the national federations of Austria and Slovenia. It was created as a solution to semi-professional hockey in both Austria and neighboring Slovenia. The league merged with the Serie A to become the Alps Hockey League in 2016.
History
The Inter-National League was founded on July 14, 2012 with seven teams joining the inaugural season. In Austria, seven out of 11 teams from last year’s second tier Austrian National League had left the league. Two teams, Dornbirner and TWK Innsbruck, were accepted into the Austrian Hockey League (also referred to as the Erste Bank Eishockey Liga due to sponsorship reasons.) [1] The remaining teams either folded or chose to play in lower local leagues.
Acroni Jesenice was confirmed to become an inaugural member. However, due to financial problems the team informed the league that they would be folding effective August 31, 2012 (two weeks before the start of the season.) [2]
On June 8, 2013, the league's 2013–14 season was decided and it saw the league jump from six teams to 15. After the late fold of Acroni Jesenice, Team Jesenice will participate in the league this season as one of four new Slovenian clubs. The other three Slovenian newcomers are Bled, Maribor and Celje. The league also welcomed Italian sides SV Caldaro/Kaltern, Eppan Pirates, Merano Junior, Neumarkt-Egna Wildgoose and Gherdëina. For the 2013–14 season, the teams were allowed four imports (two U-22, and two with no age limit). These imports may not be exchanged between teams in the league.[3]
The Italian teams all withdrew after the 2013-14 season, as the Italian Federation mandated they join the country's national league, the Serie A.
Scheduling
The inaugural INL season will start on September 15, 2012, while the last game in the regular season takes place on March 2, 2013. The INL playoffs semi-finals and finals are all played in best-of-five format. The fifth game of the playoffs final - if necessary - would be on the April 2, 2013.[2]
The scheduling for the INL was designed to keep the travel costs at a minimum. Each time will play thirty-six games total in a set of six rounds (three home games, three away against all six opponents.) The league will feature a "double weekend", where opponents are played on back-to-back games during the weekend.[2]
Scoring
INL games will be scored with the "three-point rule": three points for the winner after regular time, two points if teams win at overtime or shootout, one for the loser after regular time.[2]
Trades and transfers
Transfers will be permitted during the season, but only if both teams reach an agreement.[2]
Teams
| Team | City/area | Arena | Capacity | Founded |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Former teams | ||||
| Bled | Bled
|
Bled Ice Hall | 1,000 | 1999 |
| Bregenzerwald |  Bregenz Forest
|
Alberschwerde | 4,270 | 1985 |
| Celje | Celje
|
Golovec Ice Hall | 500 | 1998 |
| Eppan Pirates |  Eppan
|
Eisstadion Eppan | 1,400 | 1981 |
| Feldkirch | Feldkirch
|
Vorarlberghalle | 5,200 | 1945 |
| Gherdëina | Sëlva
|
Pranives Ice Stadium | 2,000 | 1927 |
| Jesenice | Jesenice
|
Podmežakla Hall | 4,500 | 2013 |
| Kaltern | Kaltern
|
Palaghiaccio Kaltern | 850 | 1962 |
| Kitzbühel | Kitzbühel
|
Sportpark Kapserbrucke | 1,700 | 1910 |
| KSV Eishockey | Kapfenberg
|
Sportzentrum Kapfenberg | 4,000 | 2015 |
| Lustenau | Lustenau
|
Rheinhalle Lustenau | 2,200 | 1970 |
| Maribor | Maribor
|
Tabor Ice Hall | 1,000 | 1993 |
| Merano | Merano
|
Meranarena | 1,000 | 2001 |
| Neumarkt-Egna | Neumarkt
|
Würth Arena | 3,500 | 1963 |
| Slavija | Ljubljana
|
Zalog Ice Hall | 1,000 | 1964 |
| Kapfenberg Steelers | Kapfenberg
|
Sportzentrum Kapfenberg | 4,000 | 2014 |
| Triglav Kranj | Kranj
|
Zlato Polje Ice Hall | 1,000 | 1968 |
| Zell am See | Zell am See
|
Eishalle Zell am See | 2,600 | 1928 |
Inter-National League seasons
| Season | Champions | Runners-up |
|---|---|---|
| 2012–13 | Bregenzerwald | Slavija |
| 2013–14 | Neumarkt-Egna | Bregenzerwald |
| 2014–15 | Lustenau | Feldkirch |
| 2015–16 | Bregenzerwald | Lustenau |
References
- ↑ Martin Merk (July 14, 2012). "New Austro-Slovenian league: Inter-National-League to start one tier below EBEL". IIHF.com. http://www.iihf.com/home-of-hockey/news/news-singleview/recap/7176.html?tx_ttnews%5BbackPid%5D=955&cHash=c4f36f608e. Retrieved September 6, 2012.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 Davide Tuniz (August 31, 2012). "Acroni Jesenice withdraws from Inter-National League". Eurohockey.com. http://www.eurohockey.com/article/1770-acroni-jesenice-withdraws-from-inter-national-league.html. Retrieved September 6, 2012. Cite error: Invalid
<ref>tag; name "Eurohockey" defined multiple times with different content - ↑ Davide Tuniz (June 8, 2012). "The new INL comes". Eurohockey.com. http://eurohockey.com/article/2681-the-new-inl-comes.html. Retrieved June 8, 2012.
External links
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